Eight communities will receive awards for excellence in downtown revitalization during the North Carolina Main Street Awards Ceremony this evening. Secretary of Commerce Machelle Sanders, Assistant Secretary of Rural Development Kenny Flowers, and Director of the North Carolina Main Street and Rural Planning Center Liz Parham, will present the awards virtually in categories that include economic vitality, design, promotion, and organization.
“Congratulations to these communities for their leadership and award-winning projects that enhance the vitality of their Main Streets,” said N.C. Department of Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “Each award winner represents the ingenuity that North Carolinians possess and their ability to create jobs and spur investment that helps improve their local economies.”
The North Carolina Main Street & Rural Planning Center works in regions, counties, cities, towns, downtown districts and in designated North Carolina Main Street communities, to inspire placemaking through building asset-based economic development strategies that achieve measurable results such as investment, business growth and jobs.
A panel of judges chose the following award winners from more than 35 nominations submitted by Main Street and Small Town Main Street communities statewide.
SMALL TOWN MAIN STREET AWARDS
DESIGN
- Warrenton - Warrenton Town Hall Rehabilitation
MAIN STREET AWARDS
ORGANIZATION
Best Economic Recovery Initiative
- Brevard - Transylvania Tomorrow
Best Public-Private Partnership in Downtown Revitalization
- Albemarle - Pfeiffer University Center for Health Sciences
- Laurinburg -102 South Main Street
- Salisbury - Heart of Salisbury
PROMOTION
Best Downtown Special Event or Event Series
- Wilson - Electric Light Fantasy
ECONOMIC VITALITY
Best Adaptive Reuse Project
- Oxford - Strong Arm Bakery
- Salisbury - 112-114 Innes Street - Barnhardt Jewelers & Lofts on Innes
DESIGN
Best Historic Rehabilitation Project
- Morganton - 202 South Sterling Street
- Oxford - The Orpheum